HART names Grabauskas executive director

Grabauskas will begin his new role in mid-April heading the agency responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the $5.2 billion rail project. The HART board of directors voted unanimously on the selection after taking public testimony at its board meeting today at Mission Memorial Annex.

"I am humbled to be selected as HART executive director and I am fully committed to helping bring this project to reality," Grabauskas said. "I want to thank the HART board for its support and I look forward to working with the HART staff as we continue moving forward."

Grabauskas' three-year HART contract includes an annual base salary of $245,000, a $36,000 a year housing allowance and a transportation allowance of $6,000 a year. The proposal also includes the potential for a $35,000 annual performance bonus.

The HART board's selection process began in November 2011 and involved 150 people being contacted as part of the search.

"Dan Grabauskas has shown himself to be a proven leader in the transit industry and we are very excited to see him come aboard at this time," said Keslie Hui, chairman of the HART board's Human Resources Committee. "After an extensive screening process, the board concluded that Mr. Grabauskas was the one for the job. He is an honorable public servant, passionate about public transportation in general and our project in particular and he is fully committed to using his considerable knowledge, skills and experience to delivering rail to the people of Honolulu, on time and within budget."